Atlanta Takes a Thrashing, 6-3 Detroit

By Jessica Haskin

September 4th, 2000

I knew this game was going to be exciting when during the pre-game skateSean Avery was chirping to the Atlanta Thrashers every chance he got,stretching over at the red line instead of at the face off circle withthe rest of his team, yapping continuously. Both teams came outcrashing and banging but didn’t take any penalties for the first threeminutes. Mike Sgroi took the first of the many penalties handed outin the game drawing an interference call. Atlanta jumped at thechance when Mike Weaver slammed the puck past JF Perras with 21 secondsremaining on the power play. Detroit came back quickly scoring lessthan a minute later. Ryan Barnes and Eric Bowen dropped the gloves forthe first fight of the night at 8:04, each receiving 5 minute majors.30 seconds later Avery and Luke Sellars each received 5 minute majorsalso after deciding to go for a whirl, which in turn immediatelyinspired Kori Davison and David Kaczowka to give it a try.Unfortunately for Davidson and Kaczowka they received game misconduct’salong with their 5 minute majors. A few minutes later Adam Deleeuw andDarcy Hordichuk got into a scuffle, each receiving 2 minutes forroughing. Jason Williams also at the same time took a hooking penaltyputting Atlanta on the Power Play. Perras made a spectacular save onBrad Tapper but Derek MacKenzie made the Red Wings pay when he put thepuck past Perras with just 18 seconds left on the power play. Jules-EdyLaraque scored the third for Atlanta just 25 seconds later, sending thepuck just over Perras’ left shoulder. While short handed Magnus Nilssongot the puck and took off with Tim Verbeek catching up, Nilsson passedto Verbeek just a few feet in front of Rob Zepp, not giving him a chanceto do anything. With 2 minutes left in the first Avery and Laraquedropped the gloves, the two smallest guys on the ice, yet two that makeup in spirit what they lack in size. Avery drew 2 minutes forinstigating the fight, 5 minutes for fighting, and was thrown out of thegame for his second fight. Laraque received 5 minute fighting major.The first period ended with 66 penalty minutes, and 3 players beingejected from the game.

The Second period started with a bang, when 2seconds after they dropped the puck Sgroi and Hordichuk dropped thegloves, it was a short fight but Sgroi cleanly beat Hordichuk.Hordichuk left the ice obviously needing stitches for his bloodied faceand Sgroi sat in the penalty box forhis 5 minutes. Deleeuw and Kirill Alexeev went at it 4 minutes laterwhen Deleeuw didn’t like the slash Alexeev had given him. The fightended with Alexeev laying on the ice holding his wrist with a verypained expression on his face. Alexeev left the ice with a dislocatedshoulder which may require surgery. Brad Tapper took a high stickingcall at 7:20. Barnes working with Verbeek and Dustin Kuk made Tapperregret the slash, sending the puck past Zepp. The Thrashers made agoalie change with T.J. Aceti replacing Zepp at 10:31 of the second. 50seconds later Aaron Van Leusen scored assisted by Tomas Kopecky andVerbeek. At 7:40 Kopecky scored a power play goal tipping in AntonBorodkin’s shot, putting Detroit up 5-3.

The third period was relatively uneventful with only a few minor penalties and one goal scored at 1:55by Borodkin, assisted by Kopecky. Both teams quietly left the ice tooworn out to be celebrating the win or to show any anger because of theloss.